Nathan Ake signs new contract, is sent on loan to Premier League team

On Friday, Chelsea announced that they had agreed to a new contract with one of their young stars, and also immediately sent the player out on loan. The club confirmed that Nathan Ake has signed a new five-year deal which will see him remain with the club until 2020, and also confirmed that the midfielder will join Watford, where he'll spend the entire 2015/16 season on loan.

Ake has been on the fringes of the Chelsea first team for the better part of the last three seasons, where he's been relatively impressive every time he sets foot on the pitch. The Blues have a crowded midfield, however, both in terms of first team players and high-end prospects, so earning a regular role with the Blues straight out of the academy was always going to be a difficult task.

The 21-year old will now have the chance to show Jose Mourinho and the Chelsea hierarchy what he can do at the Premier League level, and should have plenty of chances in a relatively thin Watford squad. Here's hoping he impresses.